editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Allison Aubrey is a correspondent for NPR News, where her stories can be heard on Morning Edition and All Things Considered. She's also a contributor to the PBS NewsHour.Aubrey is a 2016 winner of a James Beard Award in the category of "Best TV Segment" for a PBS/NPR collaboration. The series of stories included an investigation of the link between pesticides and the decline of bees and other pollinators, and a two-part series on food waste. Along with her colleagues on The Salt, Aubrey is winner of a 2012 James Beard Award for best food blog. She was also a nominee for a James Beard Award in 2013 for her broadcast radio coverage of food and nutrition. In 2009, Aubrey was awarded the American Society for Nutrition's Media Award for her reporting on food and nutrition. She was honored with the 2006 National Press Club Award for Consumer Journalism in radio and earned a 2005 Medical Evidence Fellowship by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Knight Foundation. She was also aNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Allison AubreyTue, 06 Dec 2016 08:39:33 +0000Allison Aubreyhttp://ketr.org
Allison AubreyTraffic safety officials regularly warn us of the risks of driving while drunk or distracted.But Americans still need to wake up to the dangers of getting behind the wheel when sleepy, according to a recent study of crash rates.A report released Tuesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that drivers who sleep only five or six hours in a 24-hour period are twice as likely to crash as drivers who get seven hours of sleep or more.And the less sleep the person behind the wheel gets, the higher the crash rate, according to the findings. For instance, drivers in the study who got only four or five hours of shut-eye had four times the crash rate — close to what's seen among drunk drivers."If you have not slept seven or more hours in a given 24-hour period, you really shouldn't be behind the wheel of a car," says Jake Nelson, director of Traffic Safety Advocacy Drivers Beware: Crash Rate Spikes With Every Hour Of Lost Sleephttp://ketr.org/post/drivers-beware-crash-rate-spikes-every-hour-lost-sleep
91367 as http://ketr.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 05:01:00 +0000Drivers Beware: Crash Rate Spikes With Every Hour Of Lost SleepAllison AubreyA new report from the National Academy of Sciences says it's hard to know how many people in the U.S. actually have food allergies or whether they're on the rise.Part of the challenge is this: Food allergies are often self-diagnosed and symptoms can be misinterpreted. Sometimes people can't distinguish a food allergy from other conditions such as lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, which don't fit the medical definition of an allergy."There are a lot of misconceptions about what a food allergy is," says Dr. Virginia Stallings, a board-certified nutrition pediatrician at the The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the chair of the committee that wrote the new report.One scenario is this: A parent of a young child introduces a new food — say, milk — into the diet, and then notices the child has an upset stomach or other symptoms of gastrointestinal distress.The parent may suspect a food allergy. But, perhaps, these are signs of lactose intolerance — a completely differentAre Food Allergies On The Rise? Experts Say They Don't Knowhttp://ketr.org/post/are-food-allergies-rise-experts-say-they-dont-know
91191 as http://ketr.orgWed, 30 Nov 2016 22:18:00 +0000Are Food Allergies On The Rise? Experts Say They Don't KnowAllison AubreyHeritage breed turkeys are making a comeback.These birds taste more like the turkeys that Native Americans and settlers ate in the 17th century, compared to today's Butterball turkeys.Just 20 years ago, some heritage turkey breeds were nearly extinct. For instance, in 1997 there were fewer than 10 Narragansett breeding birds left. Today, there are more than 2,000, according to a new census from The Livestock Conservancy."It's impressive," says Richard McCarthy, executive director of Slow Food USA. The Narragansett is enjoying a remarkable revival." Other varieties, including the Midget White, the Chocolate, and one known as Lavender, have rebounded as well.So, what's driving this resurgence? Part of the story is flavor. "The taste is very robust," says Dana Kee of Moose Manor Farms, who raises Narragansetts. "It's not just a vehicle for gravy."Kee says as more people look to connect with where their food comes from, her farm is beginning to thrive."People love a story," says Dana Kee. Heritage Turkeys Make A Comeback, But To Save Them We Must Eat Themhttp://ketr.org/post/heritage-turkeys-make-comeback-save-them-we-must-eat-them
90984 as http://ketr.orgWed, 23 Nov 2016 21:27:00 +0000Heritage Turkeys Make A Comeback, But To Save Them We Must Eat ThemAllison AubreyThis is the time of year when donations to food banks spike. But, some food banks are getting pickier about what they'll accept.Earlier this year the Capital Area Food Bank announced it would "dramatically" cut back on junk food it receives and distributes. This means saying "no" to donations such as sheet cakes, holiday candy, sugary sodas and other processed, bakery items."Our core business — in helping those most in need — needs to be not only getting people food, but getting them the right food," says Nancy Roman, the CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank. Roman says about half of the people that the CAFB serves have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions, and about one in four clients have diabetes in their households. Given the epidemic of lifestyle and diet-related diseases, "we have a moral obligation to get our act together," Roman says.Other food pantries are following a similar strategy. At the Share food pantry in McLean, Virginia, there's an effort to limit howWhen Food Banks Say No To Sugary Junk, Schools Offer A Solutionhttp://ketr.org/post/when-food-banks-say-no-sugary-junk-schools-offer-solution
90958 as http://ketr.orgWed, 23 Nov 2016 10:06:00 +0000When Food Banks Say No To Sugary Junk, Schools Offer A SolutionAllison AubreyVoters in three cities in California passed ballot measures to place a one cent-per-ounce tax on sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages, a move aimed at tackling obesity.In San Francisco, 62 percent of voters cast their ballots in favor of the tax on sugary drinks. Similar measures passed in Oakland and Albany, Calif. In addition, the city of Boulder, Colo., passed a 2 cents-per-ounce tax."The growing worldwide movement to tax sugary beverages can no longer be stopped," wrote Harold Goldstein, executive director of Public Health Advocates in a release today. Goldstein pointed to the World Health Organization's recent report calling on nations around the globe to tax sugary drinks.As we've reported, after Berkeley, Calif., passed a tax on sugary drinks, one study found that consumption of sugary drinks dropped by about 20 percent. And, after Mexico imposed a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2014, researchers documented a decline in sales.The CEO of the American Heart AssociationSouring On Sweet? Voters In 4 Cities Pass Soda Tax Measureshttp://ketr.org/post/souring-sweet-voters-4-cities-pass-soda-tax-measures
90500 as http://ketr.orgWed, 09 Nov 2016 22:23:00 +0000Souring On Sweet? Voters In 4 Cities Pass Soda Tax MeasuresAllison AubreyThe World Health Organization has already urged us to cut back on sugar, limiting added sugars to no more than 10 percent of our daily calories.So, how might policymakers get people to follow this advice? In a new report, the WHO is urging governments around the world to tax soda and other sugary drinks.In its report, the World Health Organization points to systematic reviews of policies aimed at improving diet and preventing lifestyle diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. "The evidence was strongest and most consistent for the effectiveness of sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in the range of 20-50% in reducing consumption," the WHO's meta-review concludes.Dr. Douglas Bettcher, director of the WHO's Department for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, says that "consumption of free sugars, including products like sugary drinks, is a major factor in the global increase of people suffering from obesity and diabetes.""If governments tax products like sugary drinks, they can reduceTax Soda To Fight Obesity, WHO Urges Nations Around The Globehttp://ketr.org/post/tax-soda-fight-obesity-who-urges-nations-around-globe
89409 as http://ketr.orgTue, 11 Oct 2016 19:27:00 +0000Tax Soda To Fight Obesity, WHO Urges Nations Around The GlobeAllison AubreyYou don't need us to tell you that backyard chickens have become an urban (and suburban) obsession.But here's what you may not know: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented a record high number of salmonella infections linked to these domestic flocks."This year saw the largest number of illnesses linked to contact with backyard poultry ever recorded," the CDC writes in an investigation update.So far this year, 895 people from 48 states have gotten sick, and 209 people have been hospitalized. In Mississippi, a salmonella infection linked to backyard poultry was determined to be the cause of death of one person.It's no surprise that chickens can harbor bacteria that can make us sick. "It's common for chickens, ducks and other poultry to carry Salmonella, a type of germ that naturally lives in the intestines," explains the CDC.A few years back, we reported on a 2012 salmonella outbreak that sickened 195 people, most of whom had been in contact with live chickens. InBackyard Chickens Linked To Record High In Salmonella Infections, CDC Sayshttp://ketr.org/post/backyard-chickens-linked-record-high-salmonella-infections-cdc-says
89327 as http://ketr.orgSat, 08 Oct 2016 17:38:00 +0000Backyard Chickens Linked To Record High In Salmonella Infections, CDC SaysAllison AubreySo, you're looking for a quick grab-and-go snack, and there's a row of energy bars at the checkout counter. Are they a healthy option?The maker of Kind bars thinks so. The company has used the phrase "healthy and tasty" on some of its products that contain lots of nuts. But, here's the issue: The bars contained too much fat to meet the Food and Drug Administration's strict low-fat definition of healthy. So, as we reported last May, the company helped launch a petition to challenge the status quo.Now the FDA has begun the process of redefining the term "healthy" on food labels. Policymakers are looking for input from food makers, health experts and the public. You can weigh in with your ideas about what factors and criteria should be used for the new definition. (Submit electronic comments directly to the FDA)."As our understanding about nutrition has evolved, we need to make sure the definition for the 'healthy' labeling claim stays up to date," writes Douglas Balentine, who directsFDA Is Redefining The Term 'Healthy' On Food Labelshttp://ketr.org/post/fda-redefining-term-healthy-food-labels
89117 as http://ketr.orgMon, 03 Oct 2016 09:14:00 +0000FDA Is Redefining The Term 'Healthy' On Food LabelsAllison AubreyEating well has many known benefits. But a good diet may not be able to counteract all the ill effects of stress on our bodies.A new study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, suggests stress can override the benefits of making better food choices.To evaluate the interactions between diet and stress, researchers recruited 58 women who completed surveys to assess the kinds of stress they were experiencing. The women also participated in what researchers call a "meal challenge," where they were each given two different types of meals to eat, on different days.One meal was high in saturated fat, the type of fat linked to cardiovascular disease. The other meal was high in a plant-based oil, which is considered more healthful."When women were not stressed and they got the healthier meal, their inflammatory responses were lower than when they had the high saturated fat meal," explains study author Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at the OhioChill Out: Stress Can Override Benefits Of Healthful Eatinghttp://ketr.org/post/chill-out-stress-can-override-benefits-healthy-eating
88925 as http://ketr.orgTue, 27 Sep 2016 22:02:00 +0000Chill Out: Stress Can Override Benefits Of Healthful EatingAllison AubreyFor some, there's a a glam factor attached to the vegan lifestyle. And these days, there seems to be a growing chorus singing the praises of the environmental and health benefits of a plant-centric diet. Perhaps nowhere is the embrace of a vegetarian diet more on display than in Berlin, Germany, dubbed a global vegan mecca for its growing array of restaurants (think: vegan kebabs, pizza and ice cream) as well as vegan street festivals — and even a vegan butcher. One pro-vegan group estimates about 80,000 people in Berlin are following a vegan diet.If you listen to my story, you'll hear Berlin resident Moza Kabbar, who says there's a huge boom in enthusiasm for veganism in the city.But not everyone in Germany is on board. In a new paper, the German Nutrition Society says a vegan diet can't provide everything your body needs."With a pure plant-based diet, it is difficult or impossible to attain an adequate supply of some nutrients," states the German Nutrition Society's new position onCan A Vegan Diet Give You All You Need? German Nutritionists Say 'Nein'http://ketr.org/post/can-vegan-diet-give-you-all-you-need-german-nutritionists-say-nein
88426 as http://ketr.orgMon, 12 Sep 2016 09:09:00 +0000Can A Vegan Diet Give You All You Need? German Nutritionists Say 'Nein'Allison AubreyTop brass at PepsiCo has talked for months about the introduction of an organic line. And now, according to Bloomberg, the company is rolling out G Organic — yep, an organic version of the famously technicolored sports drink Gatorade. (Think crimson red, electric blue and neon green shades.)"Gatorade really dominates the [sports drink] market right now," says Beth Bloom, senior food and drink analyst at the market research firm Mintel. Gatorade commands 77 percent of sports drink sales in the U.S."I think the [organic line] will broaden the appeal," says Bloom. G Organic will be "one additional offering in their line that may [offer] a little bit of a better health profile."Bloom says health is definitely a driver in the purchase of organic products: "We're seeing that about half of consumers who purchase organic products do so because they think they're healthier than non-organic products."But is this new line of organic Gatorade really any better for you?I put the question to HaemiOrganic Gatorade: It's Still Loaded With Sugar, Folkshttp://ketr.org/post/organic-gatorade-its-still-loaded-sugar-folks
88099 as http://ketr.orgThu, 01 Sep 2016 21:50:00 +0000Organic Gatorade: It's Still Loaded With Sugar, FolksAllison AubreyYou've likely heard that dark chocolate is good for you.Last year, researchers linked a regular chocolate habit to a reduced risk of heart disease.And, as we've reported, compounds found in cocoa known as flavanols or polyphenols have been shown to improve vascular health by increasing blood flow.Researchers say some of these compounds can help the body form nitric oxide, a compound that causes blood vessels to dilate."What we've seen is that intake of dark chocolate is associated with a greater ability of blood vessels to dilate when they should," Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, told me. And this may be a defense against cardiovascular disease.The knock against chocolate — at least the candy bars that Americans seem to love — is that it's often loaded with milk fat and sugar, which we're told to eat less of.And the calorie count of chocolate can give dieters guilt. It should probably come as no big surprise that a study of older women foundA Chocolate Pill? Scientists To Test Whether Cocoa Extract Boosts Healthhttp://ketr.org/post/chocolate-pill-scientists-test-whether-cocoa-extract-boosts-health
87947 as http://ketr.orgMon, 29 Aug 2016 09:00:00 +0000A Chocolate Pill? Scientists To Test Whether Cocoa Extract Boosts HealthAllison AubreyAmericans love shrimp.We import about $5 billion worth of it from all over the globe, including from India, Thailand and Indonesia.But over the past year, we've learned more about the downsides of global shrimp production. The AP uncovered slave labor in Southeast Asia, and there's also documentation of environmental degradation from destruction of mangroves.Perhaps this helps explain the success of a new kind of boutique shrimp operation in New York, called Eco Shrimp Garden. Here, a variety known as Whiteleg Shrimp, or Pacific white shrimp, are grown in indoor, circulating tanks. If you listen to the audio with this story, you'll hear me touring the Eco Shrimp farm, which is housed in a renovated factory in Newburgh, N.Y., about a 90-minute drive from Manhattan.As I stepped inside, I felt as if I'd arrived in the tropics. It was so humid and warm, my iPhone temporarily stopped working. Proprietor Jean Claude Frajmund has created his own, indoor mini-ocean. I'm surrounded by 84,000Shrimp Grown In Tanks Make A Splash, Coming To A Market Near Youhttp://ketr.org/post/shrimp-grown-tanks-make-splash-coming-market-near-you
87566 as http://ketr.orgThu, 18 Aug 2016 18:13:00 +0000Shrimp Grown In Tanks Make A Splash, Coming To A Market Near YouAllison AubreyCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.Indoor Shrimp Production Opens New Possibilities For Foodhttp://ketr.org/post/indoor-shrimp-production-opens-new-possibilities-food
87430 as http://ketr.orgSun, 14 Aug 2016 21:25:00 +0000Indoor Shrimp Production Opens New Possibilities For FoodAllison Aubrey Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.Activists Gather To Push For $15 Federal Minimum Wagehttp://ketr.org/post/activists-gather-push-15-federal-minimum-wage
87395 as http://ketr.orgSat, 13 Aug 2016 21:09:00 +0000Activists Gather To Push For $15 Federal Minimum WageAllison AubreyWe're living at a time when more than 80 percent of Americans fail to eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables. At the same time, many Americans overeat refined grains and sugar.This may help explain why the obesity rate seems stuck. The most recent estimate is that 36 percent of adults in the U.S. are obese.But, as a nation, we seem to have our blinders on. Despite much evidence to the contrary, most Americans say they have a healthy diet.This comes from a poll NPR conducted with Truven Health Analytics, which surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,000 U.S. adults in May.One question they asked: How healthy would you consider your eating habits to be? About 75 percent of respondents ranked their diets as good, very good or excellent.Hmm. Are Americans confused about what constitutes a healthy diet? Do they say one thing, but do another? Or perhaps it's a matter of portion size: We may be choosing foods that are healthy in moderation, but are eating too much of75 Percent of Americans Say They Eat Healthy — Despite Evidence To The Contraryhttp://ketr.org/post/75-percent-americans-say-they-eat-healthy-despite-evidence-contrary
86980 as http://ketr.orgWed, 03 Aug 2016 16:03:00 +000075 Percent of Americans Say They Eat Healthy — Despite Evidence To The ContraryAllison AubreyMcDonald's is no longer serving chicken raised on antibiotics that are important to human medicine. The company made the pledge last year, and now reports that it has completed its transition to the new antibiotic policy ahead of schedule.As we've reported, many scientists are concerned that the more an antibiotic is given to food animals, the more quickly bacteria could adapt and become resistant to it. And the FDA has urged farmers and ranchers who raise livestock to reduce antibiotic use.Chicken served at McDonald's won't necessarily be raised completely without antibiotics. The company's suppliers are still allowed to used ionophores, a type of medicine that is not used to treat people.In a press release, Lena Brook of the Natural Resources Defense Council writes: "The fact remains that 70 percent of medically important antibiotics (classes of drugs also used in human medicine) in the U.S. are sold for use on animals, not people."While Brook applauds McDonald's for implementing itsMcDonald's Now Serving Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics — Mostly http://ketr.org/post/mcdonalds-now-serving-chicken-raised-without-antibiotics-mostly
86934 as http://ketr.orgTue, 02 Aug 2016 16:36:00 +0000McDonald's Now Serving Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics — Mostly Allison AubreyThe baristas have spoken, and Starbucks is listening: The company says it's loosening its dress code for in-store employees. Yes, the green aprons remain, but you may begin noticing more personal flair underneath.A company announcement invites baristas "to shine as individuals while continuing to present a clean, neat and professional appearance."No longer must Starbucks employees choose between plain black and white tops. The company says "a range of shirt colors" and subtle patterns are now permitted — though it's still a pretty narrow range, in subdued tones you might call "drabby chic" (think grays, navys and browns).The company has also loosened up on hair color. "In the past it had to be natural hair color," a spokesperson tells us — no purple, pink or neon hair allowed. Now, employees can feel free to let the rainbow shine in their mane.Mario Leon, a Starbucks store manager in Manhattan, says his baristas are pumped about the changes. The company, he says, is "looking to boostStarbucks' New Dress Code: Purple Hair And Fedoras OK, But Hoodies Forbiddenhttp://ketr.org/post/starbucks-new-dress-code-purple-hair-and-fedoras-ok-hoodies-forbidden
86647 as http://ketr.orgTue, 26 Jul 2016 19:02:00 +0000Starbucks' New Dress Code: Purple Hair And Fedoras OK, But Hoodies ForbiddenAllison AubreySince calorie labeling on most alcoholic beverages is voluntary, it's often hard to know how many calories are in your favorite brew.And — perhaps — ignorance is bliss. But ignoring those liquid calories is about to get a lot tougher. Soon, calorie counts may be staring you in the face.The Beer Institute, a trade group that includes the biggest brewing names, including Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors and Heineken USA, has announced a new initiative aimed at transparency.Brewers will list calories, carbs, alcohol by volume (ABV) and other nutrition information right on their bottles and cans.The group says participating brewers will also include a freshness date and an ingredient list, which consumers can access by a QR code or on secondary packaging, such as the box or carton.Beer Institute CEO James McGreevy says six leading beer companies — which produce about 80 percent of all the beer sold in the U.S. — have agreed to follow the new standards."We've seen poll after poll that indicates Beer Bottles Will Soon Include A Reality Check: A Calorie Counthttp://ketr.org/post/beer-bottles-will-soon-include-reality-check-calorie-count
86440 as http://ketr.orgThu, 21 Jul 2016 20:03:00 +0000Beer Bottles Will Soon Include A Reality Check: A Calorie CountAllison AubreyIf you're a taxpayer, you're in on this system.We — the U.S. taxpayers — help subsidize farmers by paying part of the premiums on their crop insurance. This helps ensure that farmers don't go belly up, and also protects against food shortages.But are there unintended consequences? For instance, do subsidies encourage the production — and perhaps over-consumption — of things that we're told to eat less of? Think high-fructose corn syrup or perhaps meat produced from livestock raised on subsidized grains.Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University in Atlanta were curious. In a paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine, they point to a disconnect between the nation's agricultural policies and nutritional recommendations.Americans are told to fill 50 percent of our plates with fruits and vegetables. But here's the contradiction, as the researchers see it: U.S. agriculture policies "focus on financing the production of corn, soybeans, wheat, rice,We Subsidize Crops We Should Eat Less Of, Does This Fatten Us Up?http://ketr.org/post/we-subsidize-crops-we-should-eat-less-does-fatten-us
86299 as http://ketr.orgMon, 18 Jul 2016 19:14:00 +0000We Subsidize Crops We Should Eat Less Of, Does This Fatten Us Up?